Victory in battle against Hunghom Peninsula demolition

Property developers agree to renovate instead

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Feature Story - 2004-12-10

Ten months of intensive campaigning by Greenpeace, other environmental groups and an outpouring of opposition from the Hong Kong public has finally forced property developers SHK and NWS Holdings to back down from their demolition plans.

Greenpeace activists hang a banner on the Hunghom Peninsula Development in protest at the proposed demolition by property developers Sun Hung Kai and NWS Holdings.

Sun Hung Kai Property and NWS Holdings this afternoon issued a statement announcing that they will renovate rather than demolish the Hunghom Peninsula Development. We believe that this is a major victory for Hong Kong citizens and that this decision will create the precedent for corporations to recognise and to act on their responsibilities to the Hong Kong community in which they operate.

Chan Yue-Fai, Greenpeace assistant campaigner said, "this decision shows that companies can no longer use profit-making as the excuse to ignore their social and environmental responsibilities". Chan welcomed the decision but added that it is very overdue after so many months of opposition from environmental groups and the Hong Kong public. "We trust that this decision will set the example for corporations to respond and to act on public demands, rather than to play the waiting game to see what they can get away with".

Greenpeace will continue to follow the issue closely to ensure that strict environmental principles are followed with the renovation to minimise the waste produced.

A huge thank you to the 1900 people who used our email alert to pressurise Sun Hung Kai over the last 2 weeks - our collective pressure works!